House Vote to Bring Back Small Business Healthcare Option

Last week, the House passed the Small Business Health Care Relief Act (H.R. 5447), which brings back a popular small business healthcare offering – Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). HRAs allow an employee find their own insurance plan, and employers can then reimburse employees at their discretion.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) considered HRAs to be group health plans with an annual cap (the amount reimbursed by the employer). Annual caps of any kind were banned under the ACA – taking HRAs away. This bill will allow HRAs to be exempt from those requirements for companies with less than 50 full-time employees. The change is one of three “ACA fixes” WIPP is advocating for – read more here.

More details on this important legislation can be found here. The bill was passed with the support of Republicans and Democrats.